Scottsdale school board member calls for Superintendent Denise Birdwell's termination

The Arizona Attorney General's Office is investigating procurement practices for school renovations in the Scottsdale Unified School District. This video has been updated to include information about Hunt & Caraway's 2013 contract with the district.
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Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Denise Birdwell listens during a governing-board meeting Jan. 30, 2018. The board accepted the resignation of former CFO Laura Smith, who resigned after payments to a company she had ties with were reported.(Photo: Michael Chow/The Republic)

A Scottsdale Unified School District board member wants to terminate embattled Superintendent Denise Birdwell's contract, although it's unclear yet whether it will go to a board vote.

Birdwell has been on leave nearly a month from the district roiled in investigations into district finances, bidding practices and potential conflicts of interest.

School board member Pam Kirby told The Arizona Republic that she requested Birdwell's contract go to a board vote March 20.

“Superintendent Denise Birdwell has lost the confidence in the community, and me.”

Pam Kirby, school board member

"I'm hopeful that these matters are placed on the agenda so our district can try to move on from rancor to reforms that will continue to make progress in student achievement," she said.

However, Kirby said board President Barbara Perleberg and acting Superintendent Amy Fuller decide what items make it on the meeting agendas. Neither immediately responded to whether Birdwell's contract would go to a vote.

Also unclear is where the four other board members stand. Perleberg and board members Kim Hartmann and Sandy Kravetz said they could not comment on a possible personnel action.

Kirby, who is up for re-election this fall, pledged her move to dismiss Birdwell in an op-ed published in The Republic last week.

"Superintendent Denise Birdwell has lost the confidence in the community, and me," the two-term board member wrote.

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Hundreds of Scottsdale residents, parents and teachers line the street outside Coronado High School Feb. 13, 2018, ahead of a school board meeting to call for new district leadership. Ryan Santistevan/The Republic

Hundreds of Scottsdale residents, parents and teachers line the street outside Coronado High School Feb. 13, 2018, ahead of a school board meeting to call for new district leadership. Ryan Santistevan/The Republic

Hundreds of Scottsdale residents, parents and teachers line the street outside Coronado High School Feb. 13, 2018, ahead of a school board meeting to call for new district leadership. Ryan Santistevan/The Republic

Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Denise Birdwell listens during a governing-board meeting Jan. 30, 2018. The board accepted the resignation of former CFO Laura Smith, who resigned after payments to a company she had ties with were reported. Michael Chow/The Republic

Denise Birdwell became interim Scottsdale superintendent in January 2016. She has faced criticism this year for her "Coronado Success Initiative" and what critics call questionable hiring practices. Joshua Bowling/The Republic

Scottsdale Unified School District board president Barbara Perleberg (left) and superintendent Denise Birdwell leave for executive session during a governing board meeting Jan. 30, 2018. The board accepted the resignation former CFO Laura Smith, who resigned after payments to a company she had ties with were uncovered. Michael Chow/The Republic

The discontent began shortly after Birdwell forced all educators at Coronado High School to reapply for their jobs last school year. She says it was necessary to jump-start transformation at the underperforming high school. Some parents and educators say it was poorly communicated.

Birdwell also changed the chain of command for school psychologists. More than half of the district's 28 psychologists resigned or retired by the end of the 2016-17 school year.

Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Denise Birdwell is under fire after making controversial changes at the underperforming Coronado High School.
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Allegations elevated to investigations

Residents concerned by a lack of community input sought on school renovation projects, began looking more closely into Birdwell's hires and construction spending. Their concerns culminated in two ongoing investigations, one launched by the district and another by the Arizona Attorney General's Office in late 2017.